TV fans could not contain their glee when it was reported on Wednesday evening that Simon Cowell had pulled the plug on The X Factor.
Insiders revealed that it the music mogul, 61, has accepted the UK's version of the show 'has become slightly stale', so has reportedly decided to 'shelve' the programme for five years, but sources are claiming it's now 'unlikely' to ever return.
In the wake of the news, Twitter was awash with comments from those insisting the format was tired and also shock that the axing was only happening now.
Social media users penned: 'Good riddance XFactor. You will most certainly never be missed... Cowell read the room finally! #XFactor show was one I loved to hate more than any other... I’m surprised X Factor has lasted this long'.
Done: TV fans could not contain their glee when it was reported on Wednesday evening that Simon Cowell had pulled the plug on The X Factor (Pictured in 2005 with judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh)
On Wednesday, news of The X Factor axing arose with a show insider telling The Sun: 'Globally, it is still a phenomenon and rakes in millions every year. But in the UK, there is no question it has become slightly stale.
'Simon remains at the top of his game and knows how to make a hit. He owns the rights to the show, and it's his call — not ITV's — whether or not he drops it.
'Clearly the last thing he wants is for X Factor to fizzle out with a whimper and become a bit of a joke — especially in contrast to the show in its pomp.'
Social media users took to the microblogging site in droves to voice their feelings towards the reported axing - with a surprising amount of glee.
Out! In the wake of the news, Twitter was awash with comments from those insisting the format was tired and also shock that the axing was only happening now
They wrote: 'Hoooooray no more X Factor clogging up endless hours of weekend TV. Now scrap the rest of the rubbish that follows and put decent stuff in its place!...
'Absolutely gutted that X Factor has been axed after seventeen years when I haven't watched it in sixteen!...
'Kind of unsurprising re: X Factor really, it was a tired format and going up against something in the ITV schedule as aggressively contemporary as like, The Masked Singer/Dancer it didn't rly have a chance...
'Ppl like to be shocked and X Factor lost the ability to do that ages ago... It's about time #XFactor was axed. 17 years is a very long time for a talent show...
'Good riddance XFactor. You will most certainly never be missed... Cowell read the room finally! #XFactor show was one I loved to hate more than any other. It was a triggerathon. Hope all who auditioned tell all…
On the rise and fall: The X Factor ratings saw a dramatic rise and fall, with the show enjoying dizzying success and over 14million viewers on average in 2010
Businessman: While around the world the format is still successful, it seems that the music mogul has accepted that in the UK 'it has become slightly stale' (Pictured in 2019)
'I saw the production staff credits on first series and knew first hand there’d be cruelty afoot. It’s a TikTok world boo... Well I’m surprised X Factor has lasted this long tbh it should have finished years ago!!'
The source explained there is the option for Simon to return the talent show in 2023, which would see auditions take place next summer, however the entrepreneur is thought to be focused on his new game show Walk The Line.
MailOnline has contacted Fremantle for comment. An ITV spokseperson told MailOnline: 'There are no current plans for the next series of The X Factor at this stage.'
In March, Dermot O'Leary, 47, told new! magazine of the X Factor: 'I can't see it coming back this year. If it does come back, it'll be 2022 - maybe 2023.'
The presenter admitted he is missing filming the show, which launched in 2004, adding: 'You do miss it, definitely. You work with people for the best part of 10 years and you become a really tight team.
'And you do miss the buzz of a Saturday night show. There's something great about it.'
The father-of-one has hosted the show since 2007, taking over from former host Kate Thornton, who was at the helm from 2004–2006.
Dermot has hosted every series since, aside from in 2015 where he was replaced with former contestant Olly Murs and the late Love Island presenter Caroline Flack.
Its last traditional series of X Factor aired back in 2018, with judges Simon, Louis Tomlinson, Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field on the judging panel.
Experts: The last traditional series of X Factor aired back in 2018, with judges Simon, Louis Tomlinson, Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field on the judging panel (pictured in 2018)
Former X Factor stars Jedward and Katie Waissel have reacted to news that the show has been axed after 17 years with glee.
On Wednesday evening, it was reported that Simon Cowell, 61, has pulled the plug on the ITV talent show - which launched in 2004 and last aired in 2018 - because he doesn't want the programme to 'become a bit of a joke.'
Hot on the heels of the news, the Irish twins, who shot to fame on the show in 2008, penned: 'Xfactor has been axed Mission Complete', while Katie, who appeared in 2010, shared the MailOnline's news alert and wrote: 'Journey for justice'.
Katie, earlier this year, claimed she was sexually assaulted by somebody on the X Factor team, years after appearing on the show while Jedward have been open in their criticism of the show and its treatment of stars.
Backlash: Former X Factor stars including Jedward and Katie Waissel (pictured) have reacted to news that the show has been axed after 17 years with glee
The decision to axe the show comes hot on the heels of former contestants hitting out against the British music industry for 'exploiting' and treating them like 'cattle' since their overnight rise to fame.
2010 X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson, 35, has called for an urgent parliamentary inquiry to help protect young and emerging artists and an independent tribunal to hold those responsible for poor treatment within the industry to account.
Her fellow contestant Cher Lloyd, 27, and double act Jedward, both 29, who appeared on the show the previous year, have also hit out at the industry and claimed they were also poorly treated.
Discussing her alleged assault, Katie, 35, said the incident happened in the US when she met the person to talk about recording work.
Surprise success: Hot on the heels of the news, the Irish twins, who shot to fame on the show in 2008, penned: 'Xfactor has been axed Mission Complete', while Katie, who appeared in 2010, shared the MailOnline's news alert and wrote: 'Journey for justice'
Happy: Jedward delighted in the news and branded the announcement 'Mission Complete'
Happy: Katie, who appeared in 2010, shared the MailOnline's news alert and wrote: 'Journey for justice'
The singer said if she could change the past, she would never have appeared on the singing contest.
A spokesperson for Syco Entertainment said at the time: 'We were made aware via the media of Katie's claims in Autumn 2017 and we immediately contacted her and began an investigation.
'We were naturally shocked at the allegations and wanted to do anything we could to help – so we asked her to lodge a complaint with us and detail the allegations for that purpose. In the interim we suspended the accused.
'Despite a number of requests to Katie asking her to detail the claims to us, she chose not to make a complaint over his behaviour. As a result, and without other evidence to the contrary, we were obliged to accept his denial of the claims.
What!? On Wednesday evening, it was reported that Simon Cowell , 61, has pulled the plug on the ITV talent show - which launched in 2004 and last aired in 2018 - because he doesn't want the programme to 'become a bit of a joke' (Simon Cowell, 61, Pictured in 2017)
'We, of course, remain ready and keen to investigate her claims if she so chooses to detail them to us and even though the alleged perpetrator no longer works for either Syco or Sony Music.'
Following on from Katie and Jedward's messages, Jack Remmington, who was a wildcard act in 2017 with his pal Joel Fisher, also took to Twitter to share a sarcastic message about his time on the show and Simon's behaviour.
He penned: 'So sad The X Factor has officially ended. Had such a wonderful & supportive journey on that show...
'My favourite moment was when Simon, my mentor, told us when we were kicked out the live shows that ‘it was such a shame as he was just starting to like us’. Such a nice man xx...
Shock: Following on from Katie and Jedward's messages, Jack Remmington, who was a wildcard act in 2017 with his pal Joel Fisher, also took to Twitter to share a sarcastic message about his time on the show and Simon's behaviour (Jack and Joel, pictured on the show)
Shock: Jack shared the story with his 63.1k followers, four years after his appearance
'This was literally whilst the cameras were rolling as well, Dermot was still rounding off the show and Si dropped that bomb on us whilst we were still standing on stage so just had to smile and laugh like he’d told some shite joke haahah...
'Just to reiterate - we had been at our audition, bootcamp, judges’ houses and weeks of live shows, spanning months over the year under his ‘mentorship’. To then be told this as our journey ended'.
Fleur East, star of 2015's 12th series, spoke on Hits Radio Breakfast show on Thursday, where she said: 'Do you know what, I believe that this is the right thing to do...
Work it! Fleur East, star of 2015's 12th series, spoke on Hits Radio Breakfast show on Thursday, where she said: 'Do you know what, I believe that this is the right thing to do'
'I feel like you miss something when it’s been away for a while, you know. It was getting a bit much, and now I think after 5 years we’ll have an appetite for it, you know. You need something to go away to miss it.'
While around the world the format is still successful, it seems Simon has accepted in the UK 'it has become slightly stale' and so has reportedly decided to 'shelve it' for five years, but sources are claiming it's now 'unlikely' to ever return.
A show insider told The Sun: 'Globally, it is still a phenomenon and rakes in millions every year. But in the UK, there is no question it has become slightly stale.
Why? Simon is said to have pulled the plug on the ITV talent show because he doesn't want it to 'become a bit of a joke' (Pictured in 2005 with judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh)
'Simon remains at the top of his game and knows how to make a hit. He owns the rights to the show, and it's his call — not ITV's — whether or not he drops it.
'Clearly the last thing he wants is for X Factor to fizzle out with a whimper and become a bit of a joke — especially in contrast to the show in its pomp.'
The source explained there is the option for Simon to return the talent show in 2023, which would see auditions take place next summer, however the entrepreneur is thought to be focused on his new game show Walk The Line.
MailOnline has contacted Fremantle for comment. An ITV spokseperson told MailOnline: 'There are no current plans for the next series of The X Factor at this stage.'
Businessman: While around the world the format is still successful, it seems that the music mogul has accepted that in the UK 'it has become slightly stale' (Pictured in 2019)
In March, Dermot O'Leary, 47, told new! magazine of the X Factor: 'I can't see it coming back this year. If it does come back, it'll be 2022 - maybe 2023.'
The presenter admitted he is missing filming the show, which launched in 2004, adding: 'You do miss it, definitely. You work with people for the best part of 10 years and you become a really tight team.
'And you do miss the buzz of a Saturday night show. There's something great about it.'
The father-of-one has hosted the show since 2007, taking over from former host Kate Thornton, who was at the helm from 2004–2006.
Iconic: Simon launched X Factor in in 2004 and last aired in 2018
Dermot has hosted every series since, aside from in 2015 where he was replaced with former contestant Olly Murs and the late Love Island presenter Caroline Flack.
Its last traditional series of X Factor aired back in 2018, with judges Simon, Louis Tomlinson, Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field on the judging panel.
Dalton Harris, mentored by former One Direction star Louis, won the series, with Scarlett finishing in second place and Anthony Russell taking
